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Day 2 started with a visit to Tim's. Someone groaned this was the third time he had gone there. True, but we needed a quick bite before our long drive out to Lake Louise. It was a beautiful sunny morning in Calgary although the temperature had yet to reach double digits.

As we headed up into the Rockies, clouds and fog were slowly but surely shrouding the peaks, giving them a mystical aura. It was about 2 hours before we reached our destination. It was cold and I was in shorts, not the best combination.

A short walk around the corner afforded us the majestic view of Lake Louise, with the Victoria Glacier towering over the far end of the lake barely visible because of the thick fog. Lake Louise is known for it alluring teal colour but it was a little muted today due to the lack of sun. Then the usual taking of photos around various parts of the lake before stepping into the magnificent Chateau Lake Louise. The Chateau is as much an attraction as the the lake with its beautiful period decorations and mounted animal heads. No detail had been spared.

A quick 1/2 hour drive took us up to Moraine Lake, which is of course famous for being on the back of the Canadian $20 bill. Then it snowed. Not good for us fair weathered Vancouverites! Luckily we were smart enough to bring jackets. A few of us went down to the lake while others climbed up what seemed to be a big pile of rocks to get a view overlooking the lake. Framed by several peaks, the lake took on an even more dramatic aura as the cloud and fog swirled through the mountains. After a while we had had enough of the cold and retreated back to the warmth of our cars.

After gassing up, we headed across the highway to the Bow Valley Parkway, a beautiful scenic route that took us to Johnston Canyon. Already a few hundred metres lower, we were grateful for the difference in temperature. And no snow either. It's only a small canyon with rushing water and the smell of clean, fresh air. A 1 km paved path on one side led us to the Lower Falls. The unique thing about this waterfall was you could go into the rocks beside it and peer through a hole right up and personal with the water. It was a popular spot with people jostling for positions to have their pics taken.

Then it was time to make our way back to Calgary for dinner and our evening session at Sunridge. Ah, the demands of the (not so) rich and famous.